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VAR Is Once Again The Talking Point After Champions League Controversies

VAR Is Once Again The Talking Point After Champions League Controversies

The Video Assistant Referee system was once again in the spotlight after Manchester City's game with Spurs on Tuesday night.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Spurs and Manchester City's game in the Champions League quarter final, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, brought a shock result but it wasn't without its controversy as VAR stole a lot of the headlines.

There has long been discussion about whether technology in football to help referees was a good idea or not. Initially a lot of people were suspicious of the computers taking over, then last summer's World Cup changed a lot of minds but just months later and people are questioning it again.

The Premier League decided to wait till next season to bring video officials but the Champions League brought in VAR for this season's knockout stages.

In the second round there was a lot of controversy over Manchester United's penalty which saw them beat PSG on away goals and get into the quarter finals.

The last eight took just 12 minutes to give us more VAR controversy as the referee, with the aid of the technology, decided to give Manchester City a penalty from Danny Rose's apparent handball, in similar circumstances to the one that Marcus Rashford put away in Paris.

Not only was the penalty decision controversial but the referee also missed an encroachment by Spurs' defence from the spot kick and a possible elbow from Fernandinho on Harry Kane. Whilst at Liverpool a similar handball wasn't given and Mo Salah looked to get away with a nasty challenge, and fans were not impressed with VAR one bit:


It certainly wasn't a good night for the system and we can expect hours and hours of pundits pouring over the decisions when we finally have VAR in the Premier League next season.

Are you for or against VAR and how can it be improved?

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